If you have a garage, you must have a sensor on it. This sensor has different colored lights to indicate the current situation of your garage door. It’s like traffic signals where other colored lights have different meanings.
But the garage door sensor shows different colors because of electrical problems. One is for normal conditions; another color might be for a dysfunctional system. Today, we will explore all the meanings of your garage door sensor light and try to solve the problem accordingly.
What does an orange light mean on a garage door sensor?
An orange light on a garage door sensor means something is wrong with the electrical connection. When the transmitting sensor’s orange indicator light goes out, it usually means a problem with the electrical connection.
If you want a clear idea, it’s better to check the sensor’s connection and follow the cable to the back of the opener’s terminal. A staple or nail may have pierced the wire insulation.
Both sensors show a steady light when garage door sensors are correctly aligned; the receiving sensor’s light is green, while the sending sensor’s light is orange.
The green light on the receiving sensor usually flashes if something is in the way of the beam. It can also indicate that the sensors might not be aligned correctly.
Orange garage door sensor
Your garage door sensor can be orange due to several malfunctions. It’s an indication that they might require some checking. Although, most of these problems could be easily fixed by yourself. The main culprit for your garage sensor’s orange is the wire misalignment, blockage, and faulty light.
You should know all the reasons thoroughly to sort out the problem and increase your experience using these lights. It will also help you understand your door sensor better and solve them instantly.
Here are some common reasons why your garage door is orange. You may count more reasons, but they are the core.
Blockage:
The most common reason for sensor failure is also the simplest to fix: a blockage in the beam which causes the garage door sensor to shine orange. The culprit is garden equipment or a toy left behind by youngsters, such as a wagon or a beach ball.
If your garage door has been in place for a long time, dirt or cobwebs may have built up on the lenses, blocking the beam.
When this happens, the receiving sensor’s green light flashes or turns off completely. The sending sensor’s orange light will remain unaltered and continue to shine consistently.
Wire Misalignment:
When the receiving sensor is out of alignment with the sending sensor, the green alert light on the receiving sensor flashes or goes out.
You can usually restore alignment without using tools; simply release the wing nut that secures the transmitting sensor to its galvanized steel mounting bracket and rotate it until the receiving sensor’s green light lights steadily, then tighten the nut.
When the transmitting sensor’s orange indicator light goes out, it usually means there’s a problem with the alignment of wires.
Light Interference:
Surprisingly, it turns out to be one of the reasons why your garage door sensor is orange. The problem is tied to the sun’s angle, and some sensors briefly malfunction during specific times of the day.
The receiving sensor may be unable to detect the light beam created by the other sensor if the sun shines directly on it.
How to fix orange light on garage door sensor?
You can fix the orange light on a garage door sensor by following simple tips. I have followed them for years and still get the best solution. They also help me sort out the orange light problem, which indicates for a long time.
Clean Lenses:
When you look at your garage door sensor and notice that it has a yellow light, the first thing you should do is neat the lens.
The proximity of these sensors to the floor in your garage means that they are subject to a wide variety of contaminants, including dust, filth, and spider webs.
The approach that requires the least effort is to simply dampen a paper towel with some water and then use it to directly and completely clean the lens.
Realign Sensors:
The most likely cause of the yellow LED light you see and the inability to close your garage door is a problem with the alignment of the garage door sensors.
Both sensors have to be aimed in the same direction while maintaining the same precise angle of approach.
Reconnect/ Replace Sensor Wires:
If clearing the lenses of each garage door sensor and realigning them does not solve the problem, you should examine each sensor wire very carefully.
Clear Obstructions:
First, ensure that there is nothing within a distance of one foot from each sensor, and then attempt to close your garage door again.
What color should the garage door sensors be?
Every single one of the safety sensors features an indicator light. A yellow light is present on the sending sensor, whereas a green light will be on the receiving sensor.
Chamberlain garage door:
Chamberlain garage doors will have an amber-coloured light, which is the transmitting eye, and if it is wired correctly and the opener is plugged in, it will always be on, even if the eyes are not making contact with each other.
The other eye, known as the receiving eye, is equipped with a green LED light that will blink if it cannot make contact with the eye that is transmitting the signal.
Liftmaster garage door:
Both lights will be green when it comes to the older safety sensors for your Liftmaster garage door.
These are the sensors that detect your hand. The sending sensor continues to be stable. The sending sensor on newer Liftmaster garage door openers displays an amber light, whereas the receiving sensor displays a green light.
Craftsman garage door:
sensors on a Craftsman garage door will show a steady light if aligned correctly. The indicator light on the sensor receiving the signal will be orange, while the light on the sensor that is providing the signal will be green.
The green light on the receiving sensor will often flash if something is blocking the course of the beam or if the sensors are not aligned properly.
Should both garage door sensors be green?
Both garage door sensors should be green. Just give them a look to ensure they’re facing each other, and keep doing that until both lights turn on strong and steady.
Checking to see if the exterior LED light blinks when you make an effort to close the garage door is a quick and easy technique to determine whether or not the sensors on your door are properly aligned.
The presence of green lights denotes that the sensors are operational; however, the presence of red lights indicates that the sensors are not aligned.
The presence of green blinking sensors typically indicates that the door has identified a flaw or a safety issue. As such, it is a method of alerting the homeowner to the fact that there is a problem.
How can you tell if a garage door sensor is bad?
The following symptoms tell if a garage door sensor is bad.
Sensor Path:
Because of safety measures, the door won’t shut if it detects that your vehicle is blocking the entrance. When additional objects are positioned close to the door, the exact mechanism is activated as before.
Sensor Power:
One of the most common reasons for a malfunctioning garage door sensor is an insufficient power supply.
Examine the sensors to see if there are any tiny LED lights. If the lights are illuminated in both sensors, the power supply is operating normally, and there is no cause for concern.
If you discover that the lights in either of the sensors have been turned off, this indicates an issue with the power supply.
Sensor Lenses:
Door sensor lenses may occasionally become soiled for no apparent reason.
This can occur if you do not regularly clean the lenses, live close to a busy intersection, or have a significant amount of wind and pollution in the area near your home.
All of this contributes to the accumulation of dust on your lenses, potentially preventing the sensor from functioning as it should.
Sensor Moisture:
Sometimes, the sensors themselves or the area around them can become moist, leading to a malfunction. If your sensor was out in the rain or got wet from the sprinkler system, this is likely.
Final thoughts
If anything is wrong with your garage door electric system, your garage door sensor will be orange. A broken wire, blockages, and wire misalignment might be some of the reasons you have an orange light on your garage door sensor. Follow my tips to solve the problem.